Switching display modes based on connection state

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for switching display modes based on connections between devices. In one aspect, it is determined that an external display has been connected to or disconnected from a mobile device. Based on the determining, an application executing on the mobile device is switched between a first display mode and a second display mode. In the first display mode, a single user interface is displayed on the touch screen of the mobile device. In the second display mode, a first user interface is displayed on the external display and a second user interface, for receiving user inputs, is displayed on the touch screen of the mobile device.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 placing a gaming application in a first display mode, wherein in the first display mode the gaming application generates a single user interface for display on a touch screen of a mobile device the single user interface including a visual element controllable by (i) direct user interaction with the visual element and (ii) a first set of controls;   determining that an external display has been connected to the mobile device; and   based on determining that the external display has been connected to the mobile device, placing the gaming application in a second display mode,   wherein in the second display mode the gaming application generates a first user interface for display on the external display and a different, second user interface for display on, and for receiving user inputs through, the touch screen of the mobile device, wherein the first user interface for display on the external display includes the visual element, and wherein the second user interface for display on the touch screen includes a second set of controls comprising one or more controls that (i) are not included in the first set of controls and (ii) emulate a gaming console control pad.   
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of controls further comprises all controls of the first set of controls. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in the first display mode, displaying a control in a first size; and   in the second display mode, displaying the control in a second size that is larger than the first size.   
     
     
         8 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a user has changed an orientation of the mobile device; and   based upon determining that the user has changed the orientation of the mobile device, switching the mobile device between the second display mode and a third display mode,   wherein the third display mode generates a different, third user interface for display on and for receiving user inputs through, the touch screen of the mobile device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user interface comprises non-interactable visual elements. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that an additional external display has been connected to or disconnected from a mobile device; and   based on determining that the additional external display has been connected to or disconnected from the mobile device, switching the gaming application executing on the mobile device to a third display mode,   wherein in the third display mode the gaming application generates a third user interface for display on the additional external display.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user interface further includes a third set of controls. 
     
     
         25 . A system comprising:
 one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
 placing a gaming application in a first display mode, wherein in the first display mode the gaming application generates a single user interface for display on a touch screen of a mobile device, the single user interface including a visual element controllable by (i) direct user interaction with the visual element and (ii) a first set of controls; 
 determining that an external display has been connected to the mobile device; and 
 based on determining that the external display has been connected to the mobile device, placing the gaming application in a second display mode, 
 wherein in the second display mode the gaming application generates a first user interface for display on the external display and a different, second user interface for display on, and for receiving user inputs through, the touch screen of the mobile device, wherein the first user interface for display on the external display includes the visual element, and wherein the second user interface for display on the touch screen includes a second set of controls comprising one or more controls that (i) are not included in the first set of controls and (ii) emulate a gaming console control pad. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the second set of controls further comprises all controls of the first set of controls. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 in the first display mode, displaying a control in a first size; and   in the second display mode, displaying the control in a second size that is larger than the first size.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 determining that a user has changed an orientation of the mobile device; and   based upon determining that the user has changed the orientation of the mobile device, switching the mobile device between the second display mode and a third display mode,   wherein the third display mode generates a different, third user interface for display on and for receiving user inputs through, the touch screen of the mobile device.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first user interface comprises non-interactable visual elements. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 determining that an additional external display has been connected to or disconnected from a mobile device; and   based on determining that the additional external display has been connected to or disconnected from the mobile device, switching the gaming application executing on the mobile device to a third display mode,   wherein in the third display mode the gaming application generates a third user interface for display on the additional external display.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first user interface further includes a third set of controls. 
     
     
         32 . A tangible computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
 placing a gaming application in a first display mode, wherein in the first display mode the gaming application generates a single user interface for display on a touch screen of a mobile device, the single user interface including a visual element controllable by (i) direct user interaction with the visual element and (ii) a first set of controls;   determining that an external display has been connected to the mobile device; and   based on determining that the external display has been connected to the mobile device, placing the gaming application in a second display mode,   wherein in the second display mode the gaming application generates a first user interface for display on the external display and a different, second user interface for display on, and for receiving user inputs through, the touch screen of the mobile device, wherein the first user interface for display on the external display includes the visual element, and wherein the second user interface for display on the touch screen includes a second set of controls comprising one or more controls that (i) are not included in the first set of controls and (ii) emulate a gaming console control pad.   
     
     
         33 . The medium of  claim 32 , wherein the second set of controls further comprises all controls of the first set of controls. 
     
     
         34 . The medium of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 determining that a user has changed an orientation of the mobile device; and   based upon determining that the user has changed the orientation of the mobile device, switching the mobile device between the second display mode and a third display mode,   wherein the third display mode generates a different, third user interface for display on and for receiving user inputs through, the touch screen of the mobile device.   
     
     
         35 . The medium of  claim 32 , wherein the first user interface comprises non-interactable visual elements. 
     
     
         36 . The medium of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 determining that an additional external display has been connected to or disconnected from a mobile device; and   based on determining that the additional external display has been connected to or disconnected from the mobile device, switching the gaming application executing on the mobile device to a third display mode,   wherein in the third display mode the gaming application generates a third user interface for display on the additional external display.   
     
     
         37 . The medium of  claim 32 , wherein the first user interface further includes a third set of controls. 
     
     
         38 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 placing gaming application in a first display mode, wherein in the first display mode the gaming application generates a first user interface for display on an external display and a different, second user interface for display on, and for receiving user inputs through, a touch screen of a mobile device, wherein the first user interface for display on the external display includes a visual element, and wherein the second user interface for display on the touch screen includes a second set of controls comprising one or more controls that are not included in the first set of controls,   determining that the external display has been disconnected from the mobile device; and   based on determining that the external display has been disconnected from the mobile device, placing the gaming application in a second display mode, wherein in the second display mode the gaming application generates a single user interface for display on a touch screen of a mobile device, the single user interface including the visual element controllable by (i) direct user interaction with the visual element and (ii) a first set of controls.